LSG vs RCB: Faf du Plessis' knock powers RCB to set reasonable target for LSG

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Match 43 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Faf du Plessis, the RCB skipper, won the toss and opted to bat first. LSG bowlers troubled the RCB batters as the visitors posted a below-par score of 126 in 20 overs.

RCB captain Du Plessis has been the standout performer for the team in the ongoing IPL season and it remained so in the match against LSG as well. When all other batters failed to excel with the bat, the captain led the team from the front, scoring 44 runs from 40 deliveries. He decorated his innings with a four and a six apiece as the sluggish pitch in Lucknow hardly gave any impetus to the batters. After a gritty innings, the Proteas batter was bowled out by Amit Mishra in the 17th over.

Du Plessis has scored five half-centuries so far this season. He leads the IPL 2023 Orange Cap list with 466 runs at an average of 58.25 and a strike rate of 159.58.

RCB set 127-run target for LSG

Speaking about RCB's innings, openers Kohli and Du Plessis produced a solid start. The duo recorded their fourth 50-run partnership in the IPL 2023 in the match against LSG. LSG, on the other hand, got off to a rough start but managed to keep the visitors under 50 in the powerplay (42/0).

The RCB openers were going flawlessly until Ravi Bishnoi provided a massive breakthrough for LSG in the ninth over, as he dismissed Kohli for just 31 runs. Krishnappa Gowtham quickly gave LSG their second breakthrough, ousting Anuj Rawat (9). Bishnoi stuck again, removing all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for just four runs.

Amit Mishra then joined the party and dismissed Suyash Prabhudessai for six runs. He struck again and secured the major wicket of Du Plessis, who scored 44 off 40 balls. Later, Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed Mahipal Lomror and keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik was run out, as RCB only managed to put up 126/9 in 20 overs.